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North Carolina Drive-ins (page 1)

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Skid's Drive-in #1
Burlington, NC
Skid's Drive-in is evidently the first in a chain. I don't know how many others there were or where they were. The sign on the left was replaced with a plastic box sign around 2009. The Sputnik sign is still there. [night photo thanks Robby Delius] [map]

Town & Country Drive-in [gone]
Charlotte, NC
The Town & Country Drive-in opened here in 1955. It closed in 2008 and was demolished sometime after that. It was just down the street from the Bar-B-Q King (see below). For more, see this website.

Bar-B-Q King
Charlotte, NC
The Bar-B-Q King opened in 1959. The sign was rebuilt after being destroyed twice: once by a tornado and once by a truck. This drive-in still has car hops. For more, see this website. [map]

Zack's Hamburgers [gone]
Charlotte, NC
Zack's Hamburgers opened in 1975. This drive-in was built in 1961 as a Bell's Hamburgers. The Bell's Hamburgers chain originated in San Bernardino, CA in 1948. Glen Bell went on to develop the Taco Bell chain. Although walls have been added to this building for interior seating, the original walk-up window was still inside. The business closed in 2021 and the sign was removed. It was demolished in 2022. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.

21 South Drive-in [gone]
South Blvd.
Charlotte, NC		 21 South Drive-in Jr.
Charlotte, NC
This 21 South Drive-in opened in 1955 and closed in 2007. These photos are from 2010. The drive-in was demolished by 2014. The name came from its location on Route 21 (now South Boulevard). The sign was a replica of the original which was damaged in 1989 by Hurricane Hugo. This was the first of three locations in Charlotte. The two others are operated independently. A new location has opened in Matthews, NC. For more, see this website.

The 21 South Drive-in Jr. opened in the early 1960s. It is an indoor restaurant with no canopies or car hops. [map]

21 South Drive-in
Independence Blvd.
Charlotte, NC
This 21 South Drive-in was the second location which opened in 1959. The "1955" on their sign refers to the original location described above. The Independence Blvd. location still offers car hop service. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

Dairy Center
Mount Airy, NC
The Dairy Center opened in 1954. They have burgers, hot dogs and such in addition to ice cream. [map]

Classic Cruise-in (now West Pine Kitchen)
Mount Airy, NC

2001:
2010:
The Classic Cruise-in became the West Pine Kitchen by 2010. [map]

North Carolina
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